Collaroy Beach homes could collapse after tides erode sand

Private homes located on Sydney's Collaroy Beach could collapse after high tides and huge waves caused severe erosion for a second night

7 June 2016, 8:01am

1 min read

Homes on Collaroy beach in Australia might collapse after erosion to the soil following spring tides

The multi-million dollar waterfront properties on Collaroy Beach lost backyards, decks and a swimming pool after 13 metre-high waves and a spring tide pummelled the beach.

A second spring tide hit the beach on Monday night, eroding the sand by another 5 metres and causing additional damage to the houses.

A further spring tide is expected on Tuesday night.

Director of University of New South Wales' Water Research Laboratory Prof Ian Turner said that by Monday the beach had narrowed by about 50 metres, and it was clear a number of homes were badly damaged.

"We could hear [the houses] creaking and groaning. Some of them have clearly suffered a degree of structural damage," Turner said.

"They will require a very careful look before people can go back inside them."

Four people have been confirmed dead so far due to reasons related to the storms, and another three are still missing, the BBC reports.

But reports say that conditions eased in the state of Tasmania on Tuesday and the worst of the weather has passed.